Federal loans go into _____ after 270 days of non-payment.

When a borrower fails to make payments on a federal loan for 270 days, the loan is considered to be in default. Defaulting on a loan means the borrower has not adhered to the repayment terms set forth in the loan agreement. In the context of student loans, this typically occurs after a significant period of non-payment, which can lead to various serious consequences, including damage to the borrower's credit score, potential wage garnishment, and the possibility of the entire balance becoming immediately due.

Deferment and forbearance are options that allow borrowers to temporarily stop making payments or to reduce their payment amounts, often without going into default, but these measures are usually in place to assist borrowers facing financial hardship. Repayment refers to the scheduled payments that borrowers are expected to make according to their loan terms, but moving into default is a more severe state that occurs when those payments have not been made for a specified time. Consequently, default is the term that accurately describes the status of federal loans after 270 days of non-payment.